Ladder extension



June 3, 1952 J, MAXSON 2,599,117

LADDER EXTENSION Filed Oct. 13, 1949 Fig.1. Fig. 5.

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Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LADDER EXTENSION Joe E. Maxson, Sandusky, Ohio Application October 13, 1949, Serial No. 121,132

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a ladder railextension attachment, whereby a ladder may be used upon an uneven surface.

A primary object of the present invention is to enable a ladder to be used upon both flat surfaces and surfaces of various degrees of unevenness.

Another important object of this invention is to enable an operator to eiiicaciously adjust a conventional ladder in conformity with the characteristics of the supporting surface.

A meritorious feature of the present invention resides in the simplicity of construction, and the ease with which it is mounted upon conventional ladders.

Still another important feature of the present invention resides in its light weight and its compactness which does not substantially increase the dimensions or weight of a ladder.

A final important feature to be specifically enumerated herein resides in the use of spaced C-shaped guides and the integral construction of the extension element.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the present invention, showing the same attached to a conventional ladder and in use upon an uneven supporting surface;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the present invention, showing the same attached to a conventional ladder rail; the attachment beingshown extended from the ladder rail;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the present invention, showing the same attached to a conventional ladder rail and in the retracted position;

Figure 4 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken upon the plane of the section line 4--4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View, being taktending through the channel member shown in Figure 5. A pair of C-shaped, plates 20 and 22 slidingly engage the channel member with the extremities of the plates 20 and 22 preferably engaging both the flanges l6 and the lateral extremities of the channel member l4 as shown in Figure 4.

Plates 20 and 22- are suitably secured to an extension element 24 in spaced relation as by welding 26. The element 24 is formed of an integral U-shaped rod formed to provide legs 28 and having a bight portion 30, the legs 28 being bent adjacent the bight portion 30 to constitute a foot 32 for the extension element 24. In the preferred construction a lower end of the rail I 2 is provided with grooves 34 to receive the foot 32 upon the retraction of the element 24 on the rail l2, it being obvious that this arrangement permits the ladder Ill to be used upon an even surface without interference from the present invention.

The plate 20 is provided with an aperture 36 and a pair of ears 38. A pawl 40 having a dog 42 is pivoted to the ears 38 as at 44, with the dog 42 extending through the aperture 36 to engage ratchet teeth 46 on the channel member l4. A spring 48 is secured to the plate 20 for urging the dog 42 into engagement with the teeth 46. As best shown in Figure 5, the dimensions of the aperture 36 are such that the pawl 40 will prevent upward movements of the element 24 relative to the rails I2, that will permit the pawl 40 to ratchet on the teeth 46 when extending the element 24.

The present invention has several conspicuous advantages in that the extension 24 may be retracted readily to anon-operative position, or may alternatively be readily slipped entirely from engagement with the channel member and the rail [2. It is to be noted that the present invention does not substantially increase the overall dimensions of the ladder after being applied thereto, nor does the present invention add appreciably to the weight of the ladder. The weight reduction accomplished by the construction of the element 24 and of the plates 20 and 22 is an important factor when it is considered that a ladder to which any such extension arrangement is applied must be carried from place to place by workmen.

The spacing of the legs 28 exposes the ratchet teeth 46 to view whereby the condition of the same and the tightness of the fasteners l8 may be readily ascertained, as well as enabling an .operator to readily lubricate the teeth 48 if desired. It will be noted that the element 24 as well as the latching means and the plate 20 and 22 may be removed from the channel member as a unit when the use of the same is not contemplated on a particular job.

It is contemplated that the present invention will be found 'very useful when attached to a conventional ladder for use on the uneven ground of orchards, stair steps or the like, and that the particular configuration oi the foot 32 will provide the maximum assnranc'eagains'tslipping of the same.

From the foregoing, the construction and operfurther explanation is believed to be unnecessailly. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those s'liillewinthe art after a consideration of ttheicregfiinflisi ecification and accompanying drawings, it "is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted toialling' the scope oftheappended claim. Having described theinventiomwhatis claimed asvnewisz For-usew-ith aI-ladderJr-ai'l, anextension attachm'ent comprising arr-elongate d" channel member having marginal ofiset flanges, "said channel member being mountable on a "ladder rail with a ation of the device will be readily understood and e 4 said flanges spaced from said rails, a pair of C-shaped plate members slidably engaging said flanges, an extension element comprising an integral .U -.shaped nod having .a bighii pflrtion and a pair of :jlegs, each of said plate members being,

securedto and spaced apartby said pair of legs,

pair of legs having portions bent adjacent said bight portion to define a foot for said exten- :ision element, ratchet teeth on said channel mem- Number I Name Bate 97E997 dimming. "ana... .lQet; 1 19,110 979;821 Brasing'ton fl8Q'.. :2:'L 10 1,179,391 Bachman Apr. 15,3:915

Houston r r o Jan. 4, 1 9149 

